Frequently Asked Questions

Scroll down to see FAQ for Teens!

  • Each of us is unique, and we each grow at our own pace. Since we are not bound by the time allotted by an insurance company, we can create a schedule that works for you. Play therapy, art therapy and bibliotherapy works wonders with children in this age range, but as I said earlier, we do grow at our own paces, so it is difficult to give you a time parameter without first meeting and hearing from you, the parents, and your wonderful child. After the diagnostic sessions, we can create a plan that we can work with so we can ensure that this experience is one that your child can grow with and from so they may embark on their journey through childhood and into adulthood, with their best selves forward

  • Each of us is unique, and we each grow at our own pace. Since we are not bound by the time allotted by an insurance company, we can create a schedule that works for you. While I still utilize play and art therapy with tweens and teens in this age range, we also engage in talk therapy at this stage in their development. Since we do grow at our own paces, it is difficult to give you a time parameter without first meeting and hearing from you, the parents, and your tween and/or teen. After the initial diagnostic sessions, we can create a plan that we can work with so we can ensure that this experience is one that your tween or teen can grow with and from so they may embark on their journey through childhood and into adulthood, with their best selves forward.

  • 2+ family members

    Not only are each of us unique, but our familial units are unique as well. So, our family-units grow at their own paces as well. Since we are not bound by the time allotted by an insurance company, we can create a schedule that works for all of you. You can expect to meet as a family for an initial diagnostic session, then each individually with me for one individual session each (or more if needed) and then as a family for multiple sessions thereafter. There are intensive options that we can discuss, that allow us to meet more often within a shortened time frame and with me individually as well. We can discuss these Intensive Family Therapy options should you want to expedite the time frame.

  • Not only are each of us unique, but our relationship dynamic itself is unique as well. So, our relationship grows at its own pace as well. Since we are not bound by the time allotted by an insurance company, we can create a schedule that works for both/all of you.

    You can expect to meet as a couple (relationship unit) for an initial diagnostic session, then each individually with me for one individual session each (or more if needed) and then as a couple (relationship unit) for multiple sessions thereafter.

    There are intensive options that we can discuss, that allow us to meet more often within a shortened time frame and with me individually as well. We can discuss these Intensive Couples Therapy options should you want to expedite the time frame.

  • I am a private pay therapist.

    There are many benefits to seeing a private pay therapist; such as, I do not need to issue you a formal diagnosis as I would be required to do if I were submitting your visit to an insurance company. Also, you and I can control the frequency and duration of your treatment, and NOT the insurance company. So, you can decide when you are feeling ready to cease treatment, and not the insurance company. Lastly, if we do not involve insurance companies, then you will have no personal medical and therapy information in your permanent records, which the insurance companies keep forever.

    So, why come to a private pay therapist? YOU control the frequency and duration; YOU control the privacy of your therapy records with no formal diagnosis attaching to your permanent medical records; and YOU decide when you are ready to move on from treatment.

  • While I am believer that we are all great in our own ways, I do believe that in this field, those of us that innately have a connection to the human condition, separate themselves, as therapists, from the rest. I am a believer in the importance of the human connection as paramount to all other needs when trying to establish a relationship and a level of comfortability with each other

  • While our initial sessions are to be held in-person, after the time is appropriate, we can meet through an online meeting service in the event you are unable to commute to my office on Main Street in Ridgefield.

    If you are over 18, and you are stuck in the office or at home with your family but you have time for an online session, instead of cancelling or rescheduling your session to another day and/or time, we can arrange for it to be held online

  • If you are unable to make a session, then make arrangements for an online session, cancel, or make a reschedule request at least 24 hours before the session in order to avoid a fee of $100 for a late cancellation fee, or if cancelled within 2 hours of the session time, the cost of the full session fee will be charged.

  • If you reschedule with less than 24 hours before your session or arrange for an online session under 24 hours before your in-person therapy session, then you will not be charged the $100 late cancellation fee, unless you fail to appear for the rescheduled session or the online session or should you need to change the rescheduled or make up online session again. If you cancel in 2 hours or less from the time of the scheduled session, the full fee for the session is charged. If you cancel, reschedule or change the session to an online session more than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment, then no fee is incurred.

    If you are under 18, only your legal guardian can cancel, change, or schedule an online session. However, you can request an online session with me. Click here for instructions on how to schedule an online session with me if you are under 18 years old.

  • Then you will request an online session through my website, and I will respond with the available times (or schedule it as an online session for your upcoming weekly or biweekly session time in lieu of an in-person meeting)

    If you are under 18, then you will request an online meeting through my website, and then I will respond with a link to your legal guardians so they can approve and accept the session prior to our scheduling it. Then once your legal guardian accepts the session request made by you to me, we can schedule it for an online session.

  • You can cancel or reschedule your appointment online with no cancellation fee any time up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. If you need to change it to an online session click this link for how to request an online therapy session

FAQ for Teens

  • If you are under 18 and want to schedule an appointment, click the link have your legal guardian help you fill out the schedule an appointment request.

    I sincerely look forward to hearing from you, and I am honored to be able to support you on this awesome journey that you are ready to take in becoming the best version of yourself!

  • INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR TEENS (Ages 13 – 19)

    Life just before and during high school can be a very difficult time. Living as a teen during the rise of social media, can make life pretty hard at times. It is especially hard to stay private and to not have your private life broadcast across social media, for all to see. I too grew up in this era where your private life didn’t seem so private anymore…. A simple disagreement between friends was magnified with the rise of social media, so everyone knows what happened within seconds of it happening. From Facebook to insta to twitter and more, it may feel like it is so much more difficult to get through a problem now a days than ever before. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be. What if I told you that you could live in this social media era and still have the privacy you want, and not be as bothered by the same attempts at online/cyber bullying or online shaming as you were before. I can help you rise above it and focus more on what is working with your life and how to let go of the things that aren’t working.

    I can help you handle struggles with anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, emotional dysregulation, mood disruptions, trauma, and struggles with ADD.

    My approach is an integrative one. While I continue to use Play Therapy and Art Therapy techniques with you, I also incorporate a lot of my ideological approaches for my adult clients with you since after all, as a teen, you are embarking on adulthood! To that end I incorporate ACT Therapy, Positive Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, Attachment Theory, Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Mindfulness, and the Hakomi Method, which is mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy. I adapt these theoretical approaches to match the incredibly powerful footprint that you bring to this life.

    Having so many of these approaches in my toolbox allows me to adapt any of these, in whole or in part to your own unique being so we can embark on your journey together, towards the best version of yourself.

    The most important part to my approach is that I meet you where you are, and I adapt my approach based on your unique self and the stage of life you are at, in the moment that we first meet.

    All lifestyles are welcome and should feel 100% safe in my office at all times. I routinely support and work with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. My focus is on you, as a unique and beautiful person, period.

  • If you are 18+, you do not need your legal guardians involved at all, should you not wish to involve them. Once you turn 18 years old, our sessions are fully confidential from everyone.

  • If you are under 18, when we meet, I can discuss with you the parameters of our confidential relationship.

    I will need your legal guardians to consent to my working with you. But this does not mean that they are in the session with us, nor does this mean that I have to tell them everything we discuss. So, bring your legal guardians and come to talk with me so I can explain all of this to you and to them, in detail.

    You have a safe place here with me to talk about anything and everything that is on your mind, and I will never judge you or expect anything from you, except honesty.

  • While our initial sessions are to be held in-person, after the time is appropriate, we can meet through an online meeting service in the event you are unable to commute to my office on Main Street in Ridgefield.

    If you are under 18, then you will request an online meeting through my website, and then I will respond with a link to your legal guardians so they can approve and accept the session prior to our scheduling it. Then once your legal guardian accepts the session request made by you to me, we can schedule it for an online session.

  • If you reschedule with less than 24 hours before your session or arrange for an online session under 24 hours before your in-person therapy session, then you will not be charged the $100 late cancellation/change fee, unless you fail to appear for the rescheduled session or the online session or should you need to change the rescheduled or make up online session again. If you cancel, reschedule or change the session to an online session more than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment, then no fee is incurred. If it is under 24 hours, then $100 fee is charged, if you fail to show or cancel within 2 hours of the session, then the full fee is charged.

    If you are under 18, only your legal guardian can cancel, change, or schedule an online session. However, you can request an online session with me. Click here for instructions on how to schedule an online session with me if you are under 18 years old.

  • Each of us is unique, and we each grow at our own pace. Since we are not bound by the time allotted by an insurance company, we can create a schedule that works for you.

    While I still utilize play and art therapy with tweens and teens in this age range, we also engage in talk therapy at this stage in their development. Since we do grow at our own paces, it is difficult to give you a time parameter without first meeting and hearing from you, the parents, and your tween and/or teen.

    After the initial diagnostic sessions, we can create a plan that we can work with so we can ensure that this experience is one that your tween or teen can grow with and from so they may embark on their journey through childhood and into adulthood, with their best selves forward.